Frequently Asked Questions

Pending availability, San Francisco Experience City Tour tickets can be purchased on the day of the tour by purchasing tickets from our tour guide at the tour’s scheduled pick-up location; however, advanced reservations are recommended.

VIP Early Access to Alcatraz and Exclusive Cable Car Sightseeing Tour tickets must be purchased at least 5 days in advance of desired tour date. We recommend booking well in advance as this tour is a customer favorite.

Passengers will meet their tour guide in front of Pier 33 next to the lamppost across from the information booth. See map in our Contact Us page for additional guidance. Tour Guide will be wearing an orange jacket and holding a flag, both adorned with the with the Hornblower Classic Cable Cars logo.

San Francisco Experience City Tour – Fisherman’s Wharf:

Passengers will meet their tour guide at the flag poles between Pier 35 and Embarcadero’s Public Park. See map in our Contact Us page for additional guidance. Tour Guide will be wearing an orange jacket and holding a flag, both adorned with the with the Hornblower Classic Cable Cars logo.

San Francisco Experience City Tour – Union Square:

Passengers will meet their tour guide at Hearts in San Francisco in Union Square. See map in our Contact Us page for additional guidance. Tour Guide will be wearing an orange jacket and holding a flag, both adorned with the with the Hornblower Classic Cable Cars logo.

We operate rain or shine. Roughly 12-14 guests on each Car can fit in the middle enclosed area and then the rest of the group in the front and rear open air sections are still covered by roof so normal rain is typically a non-issue. We also provide rain ponchos upon request. We always recommend dressing in layers year round in San Francisco for your comfort.

Yes! For groups with 15 or more paying riders on either of our Experience City Tours, please call 415-922-2424 Ext. 210 or email [email protected] for more information. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer group discounts on our VIP Early Access to Alcatraz and Exclusive Cable Car Sightseeing Tour.

As we are vintage Cable Car vehicles, there are no seat belts on board. We recommend children of younger age stay seated on the lap of an adult, or between two adults. Children are the responsibility of the adult traveling with them at all times. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Passengers of Hornblower Classic Cable Cars tours acknowledge and agree to the Terms and Conditions set forth below as follows:

Hornblower Cable Cars, Inc. DBA Hornblower Classic Cable Cars (HCCC) is a full service, fully insured Transportation Company under the authority of the California Public Utilities Commission #0035895.

HCCC is not responsible for delays or changes in route caused by traffic conditions, accidents, breakdowns, construction, parades, and any other conditions beyond our control. For your safety, HCCC strongly advises our guests to stay seated while our vehicles are in motion. HCCC is not responsible for any items left on our Cable Cars or that are lost during your time on our Tours.

Tickets for the San Francisco Experience City Tour and Holiday Nights & Sights City Tour are refundable when a refund is requested at least 48 Hours prior to departure, less a 10% processing fee. There will be no refunds issued within 48 Hours of departure date. Tickets for the VIP Early Access to Alcatraz Tour are Non-Refundable once they are booked. Service-based refund requests must be made in writing within 30 days of the Tour date, and must include the ticket receipt or proof of purchase for that Tour. Refund requests will not be considered without an included ticket or proof of purchase.

We may at our discretion require any person to terminate their tour if we deem his/her conduct offensive or a nuisance to other passengers, or if behaving in such a way as to constitute a risk to his/her safety or the safety of other passengers, and we shall have no further liability. These conditions in all respects are governed by the laws of the United States of America and the State of California.